Taking Flight—Domestic Violence and Child Abduction

This article reflects on both the current operation and potential future application of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. In particular, it explores the significance of the ‘grave risk’ exception contained in Article 13(1)(b) for cases of alleged domestic violence. The deliberations of an international working group (of which the author is a member) tasked with developing a Guide to Good Practice on the interpretation and application of Article 13(1)(b) highlight some of the profound difficulties in finding a way forward on this important issue.